Patent US3703929A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3703929A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Well for transporting hot fluids through a permafrost zone
Assignee: Union Oil Company of California
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Filing: 1970-11-06
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Granted: 1972-11-28
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Expires: 1990-11-06
Abstract
Abstract A well adapted to transport hot fluids through a permafrost zone comprising a surface conductor, a short section of refrigerated casing adapted to support the upper section of the well without melting of the surrounding permafrost, a surface casing extending through the permafrost, production casing and production tubing. All casing strings are supported in the well so that the upper sections are in compression. Pressure integrity between casing strings is maintained by packing glands in the well head. Also, a short section of casing can be provided in the annulus exterior of the surface casing to provide a separately enclosed refrigeration reservoir, or to provide for circulation of refrigerant.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert W Rardin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 10:19
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B33/00; E21B33/10; E21B36/00; E21B36/003; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S166/00; Y10S166/901
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
167 words
A well for conducting hot fluids through a permafrost zone, which comprises: a surface conductor cemented in the permafrost; a first casing placed concentrically within said surface conductor and cemented therein, said casing extending sufficiently into the permafrost to provide support for the upper section of the well; a surface casing placed concentrically within said first casing and extending downwardly through the permafrost zone, said surface casing being supported from the bottom of said first casing and said casing being cemented below the bottom of said first casing; means to refrigerate the annulus between said first casing and said surface casing; a production casing placed concentrically within said surface casing and extending downwardly to the producing strata, said casing being supported from said surface casing at a point within the well; and production tubing to convey fluids between the producing strata and the surface or vice versa, said tubing being insulated through the permafrost zone and said tubing being supported from the production casing within said well.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
167 words
A well for conducting hot fluids through a permafrost zone, which comprises: a surface conductor cemented in the permafrost; a first casing placed concentrically within said surface conductor and cemented therein, said casing extending sufficiently into the permafrost to provide support for the upper section of the well; a surface casing placed concentrically within said first casing and extending downwardly through the permafrost zone, said surface casing being supported from the bottom of said first casing and said casing being cemented below the bottom of said first casing; means to refrigerate the annulus between said first casing and said surface casing; a production casing placed concentrically within said surface casing and extending downwardly to the producing strata, said casing being supported from said surface casing at a point within the well; and production tubing to convey fluids between the producing strata and the surface or vice versa, said tubing being insulated through the permafrost zone and said tubing being supported from the production casing within said well.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
45 words
The apparatus defined in claim 1 including a second concentric intermediate casing placed between said first casing and said surface casing and terminating above the bottom of said first casing, said second casing being supported from said first casing at a point near its bottom.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
58 words
The apparatus defined in claim 2 wherein the annulus between said first and said second casings is closed at its bottom by a packer and including a small diameter conduit fastened to said second casing and extending substantially its length to introduce refrigerant into said annulus, and means to withdraw vaporized refrigerant from the top of said annulus.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
48 words
The apparatus defined in claim 2 wherein the annulus between said first and said second casings is open at the bottom and wherein refrigerant is circulated down the annulus between said first and said second casings and up the annulus between said second casing and said production casing.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
59 words
The apparatus defined in claim 2 including a well head comprising means to seal the annulus between said first and said second casings, a packing gland to seal the annulus between said second casing and said surface casing, a packing gland to seal the annulus between said surface casing and said production casing, a tubing head and a Christmas-tree.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
207 words
A well for conducting hot fluids through a perma-frost zone, which comprises: a large-diameter surface conductor cemented in the permafrost; a first casing placed concentrically within said surface conductor and cemented therein, said casing extending sufficiently into the permafrost to provide support for the well in the permafrost zone; a second casing placed concentrically within said first casing and terminating above the bottom of said first casing, said second casing being supported from said first casing at a point near its bottom; a surface casing placed concentrically within said second casing and extending downwardly through the permafrost zone, said surface casing being supported from the bottom of said first casing and said surface casing being cemented below the bottom of said first casing; a production casing placed concentrically within said surface casing and extending downwardly to the producing strata, said casing being supported from said surface casing at a point within the well and said casing being cemented below said surface casing; production tubing to convey fluids from the producing strata to the surface or vice versa, said tubing being insulated through the permafrost zone and said tubing being supported from the production casing within said well; and means for refrigerating the interior of said first casing.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
207 words
A well for conducting hot fluids through a perma-frost zone, which comprises: a large-diameter surface conductor cemented in the permafrost; a first casing placed concentrically within said surface conductor and cemented therein, said casing extending sufficiently into the permafrost to provide support for the well in the permafrost zone; a second casing placed concentrically within said first casing and terminating above the bottom of said first casing, said second casing being supported from said first casing at a point near its bottom; a surface casing placed concentrically within said second casing and extending downwardly through the permafrost zone, said surface casing being supported from the bottom of said first casing and said surface casing being cemented below the bottom of said first casing; a production casing placed concentrically within said surface casing and extending downwardly to the producing strata, said casing being supported from said surface casing at a point within the well and said casing being cemented below said surface casing; production tubing to convey fluids from the producing strata to the surface or vice versa, said tubing being insulated through the permafrost zone and said tubing being supported from the production casing within said well; and means for refrigerating the interior of said first casing.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
66 words
The apparatus defined in claim 6 wherein the annulus between said first and said second casings is closed at its bottom by a packer and wherein said means to refrigerate said first casing includes a small diameter conduit fastened to said second casing and extending substantially its length to introduce refrigerant into said annulus, and means to withdraw vaporized refrigerant from the top of said annulus.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
57 words
The apparatus defined in claim 6 wherein the annulus between said first and said second casings is open at the bottom and wherein said means for refrigerating said first casing includes means for circulating refrigerant down the annulus between said first and said second casings and up the annulus between said second casing and said surface casing.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus defined in claim 6 wherein said first casing extends into said permafrost to a depth of about 350 feet.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
78 words
The apparatus defined in claim 6 including a casing head on said first casing, means to seal the annulus between said first and said second casings, a packing gland to seal the annulus between said second casing and said surface casing, a casing head on said surface casing, a packing gland to seal the annulus between said surface casing and said production casing, a tubing head on said production casing, and a Christmas-tree mounted on said tubing head.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
287 words
A well for conducting hot fluids through a permafrost zone, which comprises: a large-diameter surface conductor cemented in the permafrost; a first casing placed concentrically within said surface conductor and cemented therein, said casing extending sufficiently into the permafrost to provide support for the well in the permafrost zone; a second casing placed concentrically within said first casing and terminating above the bottom of said first casing, said second casing being supported from said first casing at a point near its bottom; a casing head on said first casing including means to seal the annulus between said first casing and said second casing; a surface casing placed concentrically within said second casing and extending downwardly through the permafrost zone, said surface casing being supported from the bottom of said first casing and said surface casing being cemented below the bottom of said first casing; a packing gland to seal the annulus between said second casing and said surface casing; a casing head installed at the top of said surface casing; a production casing placed concentrically within said surface casing and extEnding downwardly to the producing strata, said casing being supported from said surface casing at a point within the well and said production casing being cemented below said surface casing; a packing gland to seal the annulus between said surface casing and said production casing; a tubing head at the top of said production casing; production tubing to convey fluids from the producing strata to the surface or vice versa, said tubing being insulated through the permafrost zone and said tubing being supported from the production casing within said well; a Christmas-tree mounted on said tubing head; and means for refrigerating the interior of said first casing.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
287 words
A well for conducting hot fluids through a permafrost zone, which comprises: a large-diameter surface conductor cemented in the permafrost; a first casing placed concentrically within said surface conductor and cemented therein, said casing extending sufficiently into the permafrost to provide support for the well in the permafrost zone; a second casing placed concentrically within said first casing and terminating above the bottom of said first casing, said second casing being supported from said first casing at a point near its bottom; a casing head on said first casing including means to seal the annulus between said first casing and said second casing; a surface casing placed concentrically within said second casing and extending downwardly through the permafrost zone, said surface casing being supported from the bottom of said first casing and said surface casing being cemented below the bottom of said first casing; a packing gland to seal the annulus between said second casing and said surface casing; a casing head installed at the top of said surface casing; a production casing placed concentrically within said surface casing and extEnding downwardly to the producing strata, said casing being supported from said surface casing at a point within the well and said production casing being cemented below said surface casing; a packing gland to seal the annulus between said surface casing and said production casing; a tubing head at the top of said production casing; production tubing to convey fluids from the producing strata to the surface or vice versa, said tubing being insulated through the permafrost zone and said tubing being supported from the production casing within said well; a Christmas-tree mounted on said tubing head; and means for refrigerating the interior of said first casing.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
66 words
The apparatus defined in claim 6 wherein the annulus between said first and said second casings is closed at its bottom by a packer and wherein said means to refrigerate said first casing includes a small diameter conduit fastened to said second casing and extending substantially its length to introduce refrigerant into said annulus, and means to withdraw vaporized refrigerant from the top of said annulus.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
57 words
The apparatus defined in claim 6 wherein the annulus between said first and said second casings is open at the bottom and wherein said means for refrigerating said first casing includes means for circulating refrigerant down the annulus between said first and said second casings and up the annulus between said second casing and said surface casing.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus defined in claim 11 wherein said first casing extends into said permafrost to a depth of about 350 feet.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
217 words
A method for drilling a well through a permafrost zone, which comprises: drilling a large diameter hole into said permafrost to a depth below the bottom of the piles supporting the drilling rig; placing a surface conductor pipe in said hole and cementing said conductor therein; drilling a smaller diameter hole in said permafrost to a depth sufficient to support the well in the permafrost; placing a first casing in said hole and cementing said first casing to the surface; drilling an even smaller diameter hole to a depth below the bottom of the permafrost; placing the lower section of a surface casing in said hole, supporting said surface casing from the bottom of said first casing, and cementing said surface casing above the bottom of said first casing; placing a second casing in said first casing and supporting said second casing from said first casing; placing the upper section of said surface casing in said well; drilling an even smaller diameter hole through the producing zones; placing a production casing in said well and supporting said production casing from said surface casing; cementing said production casing above the bottom of said surface casing; placing a production tubing in said well; refrigerating the annulus between said first and said second casings; and placing said well in service.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
217 words
A method for drilling a well through a permafrost zone, which comprises: drilling a large diameter hole into said permafrost to a depth below the bottom of the piles supporting the drilling rig; placing a surface conductor pipe in said hole and cementing said conductor therein; drilling a smaller diameter hole in said permafrost to a depth sufficient to support the well in the permafrost; placing a first casing in said hole and cementing said first casing to the surface; drilling an even smaller diameter hole to a depth below the bottom of the permafrost; placing the lower section of a surface casing in said hole, supporting said surface casing from the bottom of said first casing, and cementing said surface casing above the bottom of said first casing; placing a second casing in said first casing and supporting said second casing from said first casing; placing the upper section of said surface casing in said well; drilling an even smaller diameter hole through the producing zones; placing a production casing in said well and supporting said production casing from said surface casing; cementing said production casing above the bottom of said surface casing; placing a production tubing in said well; refrigerating the annulus between said first and said second casings; and placing said well in service.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-11-28 | 1976-05-29 | 1976-11-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-11-28 | 1980-05-29 | 1980-11-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-11-28 | 1984-05-29 | 1984-11-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |